Respiration Flashcards

1
Q

what does respiratory pathway consist of ?

A
. nose
. nasal cavity
. paranasal sinuses
. pharynx
. larynx
. trachea
. bronchi
. alveoli
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2
Q

What forms the conducting portion of the respiratory tract

A

The early parts of the respiratory pathway from the nose to the larger bronchioles

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3
Q

What is the function of conducting portion of respiratory tract ?

A

. no gas exchange occurs here
. air is cleaned , warmed , moistened
. Conducts air from outside into alveoli

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4
Q

What is in the respiratory part of tract ?

A

Small bronchioles and alveoli

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5
Q

What happens in the respiratory part of tract ?

A

Gas exchange - CO2/O2

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6
Q

Where does most inspiration occur

A

Through nose, can in mouth

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7
Q

What are paranasal sinuses

A

Spaces in head - air pushes in there
Air filled spaces/sinues that surround nasal cavity, they also contain blood vessel- (also serve to warm the air)
found in bones around nose

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8
Q

What is function of nasal cavity ( nose )

A

. conducts air to the pharynx ( connects atmosphere to nasal pharynx )
. contains olfactory receptors = sense of smell
. warms air
. moistens air
. cleans air

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9
Q

How is air conditioned

A

By warming, moistening and cleaning it

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10
Q

Why do you need to clean, moisten and warm air

A

CLEAN - Alveoli has delicate structures - want to get rid of the dirt from the alveoli
WARM - SA of lungs is huge, if you breathe in cold air, core temp decreases quickly so you want warm air into lungs
MOISTEN - If alveoli dry, they cant absorb respiratory gases - for gas exchange to happen, gases have to dissolve in something so has to be moist

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11
Q

What are olfactory receptors?

A

They line superior region of the nasal cavity - upper part of nose
Bipolar cells
produce action potential

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12
Q

what is the nasal cavity most lined with ?

A

pseudostratified ciliated epithelium containing goblet cells and nasal glands ( cilia on top )

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13
Q

What type of secretions are nasal gland

A

Mucous and Serous

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14
Q

What does nasal gland also contains

A

Antibacterial enzymes e.g. lysozome

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15
Q

What is the function of mucous in the nasal cavity ?

A
Traps impurities ( dust particles ) to clean the air
/they help warm and moisten hair
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16
Q

What is the function of serous secretions in nasal cavity ?

A

Moisten the air

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17
Q

What is the function of superficial blood vessels in nasal cavity?

A

Warm the air

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18
Q

What is the function of cilia ?

A

Ciliated because impurities get trapped by mucus and need to get rid of mucus
The cilia of the nasal epithelium beat moving trapped impurities to the pharynx were they are swallowed

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19
Q

What happens in cold weather to the beating of cilia ?

A

Beating of cilia slows down and nose drips = runny nose
Cold/runny nose = secrete more antibacterial enzymes = more mucous = snotty nose
Mucus runs up front rather than go to back of throat
Cilia beat back towards pharynx in a rythmical manner - swallow mucous or spit it out

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20
Q

What do increased nasal secretions also account for

A

Stuffed up, runny noses following infection ( rhinitis )

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21
Q

What is the function of sensory nerve endings?

A

Trigger the sneeze reflex to expel impurities by complex series of muscle contractions

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22
Q

How many sensory nerve endings in nose

A

3

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23
Q

What happens to tears

A

Drained through puncta into nose and wafted back into cilia by pharynx - swallow tears

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24
Q

What is the function of paranasal sinuses ?

A

Decrease the weight of skull , they also warm and moisten the air

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25
Q

What happens after air passes through nasal cavity ?

A

Enters the pharynx ( which can be divided into different regions ) before entering larynx

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26
Q

What is larynx

A

Complex tube (modified part of the trachea) - which is made of muscle and cartilage. Not involved in respiration

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27
Q

What is the function of larynx?

A

Muscles contract to vibrate the vocal folds-produce sounds

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28
Q

What also goes down pharynx and larynx

A

Food

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29
Q

What is trachea

A

10-12 cm long tube connecting the larynx to the primary bronchi ( one going to left lung and one to right lung )

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30
Q

Where do primary bronchi enters and what happens there

A

Lungs

They subdivide into secondary bronchi and bronchioles

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31
Q

What lies next to trachea

A

Oesophagus - where food goes through

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32
Q

What is trachea surrounded by

A

C-shaped cartilaginous rings ( incomplete - doesnt go all way around )

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33
Q

What is function of C shaped cartilage rings

A

Allow trachea to change shape/diameter
stops trachea collapsing every time we eat
So we dont suffocate when we eat

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34
Q

what is the structure of trachea?

A

. Inner surface is covered by mucosa which is ciliated pseudostratified epithelium , and contains goblet cell
. The submucosa contain seromucous glands
-Ciliated
. Smooth muscle

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35
Q

Function of smooth muscle in trachea

A

Regulate flow of air by changing diameter of trachea/airway

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36
Q

Function of seromucous glands in trachea

A

Trap impurities and moisten the air

Produce antibacterial enzymes

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37
Q

Why is trachea ciliated

A
  • Produce cilia - the cilia beat to move the trapped impurities to the pharynx- to swallow mucous
  • When impurities are trapped by mucous, produced by goblet cells, they beat and move mucous collecting in lungs upwards through trachea into pharynx into mouth - swallow it
  • Cilia grows back
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38
Q

How does the structure of the respiratory tract change as you progress downwards from the trachea

A

It simplifies

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39
Q

How does the structure of respiratory tract simplify as one progress downwards from the trachea?

A

. The cartilaginous rings are simplified to isolated plaques before disappearing
. The epithelium changes form pseudostratified to simple columnar to cuboidal to squamous in alveoli - height of alveoli decreases = EPITHELIUM SIMPLER
. The number of goblet cells decrease
. Number of cilia also decrease
. Elastic fibres remain constant through out system

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40
Q

What 3 structures are present in trachea

A
  • Pseudostratified epithelium
  • Goblet cells
  • Extensive C shaped cartilage
41
Q

What do the terminal bronchioles signify

A

End of conducting portion of respiratory tract

42
Q

Why cilia still made when there is no mucous ?

A

Mucous falls down due to gravity

43
Q

What is terminal bronchiole

A

Where alveoli and bronchiole link to conductive portion

44
Q

What is the respiratory portion of the respiratory tract

A

. Terminal bronchioles which branch into smaller respiratory bronchioles , which are studded with isolated alveoli
. These lead to alveolar ducts containing more alveoli
. Finally leading to alveolar sacs made up of many alveoli

45
Q

Where does gas exchange happen

A

In the alveoli

46
Q

What is alveoli

A

Small thin bubbles that line broncioles

47
Q

Summary of heart - process of blood supply to lungs

A

Right side out of heart coming out of right ventricle
Pulmonary artery - split into smaller and smaller vessels = arterioles - into network of capillaries - into veins and venuoles - until going back to left side of heart where you have pulmonary vein - 2 from left lung and 2 from right lung

48
Q

What is the function of pulmonary artery?

A

Delivers deoxygenated blood to lungs

49
Q

When does pulmonary artery stop dividing into smaller vessels

A

Until each alveolus is covered by a network of capillaries , before blood returns to the heart via pulmonary vein

50
Q

What is each alveolus surrounded by ?

A

Dense network of capillaries containing oxygenated blood

51
Q

What are the three types of cells that line the alveoli/separating the air in alveoli from the blood in the capillaries?

A
  1. The walls of the alveoli are mostly composed of simple squamous epithelial cells (type 1)
  2. Surfactant secreting cells (type of epithelial cells) (type 2)- produce surfactant
  3. Alveolar macrophages -to protect surface - wbc’s derived from monocytes
52
Q

What is the function of alveolar pores between alveoli ?

A

Equalise the pressure within the lungs

53
Q

What is always present in respiratory system and what is function of it

A

Elastic fibres

Provide elasticity

54
Q

What is function of surfactant?

A

.contains antimicrobial proteins
. Lowers surface tension - this is because water molecules are more attracted to each other than to air/atmosphere , thus when alveoli is emptied of air they tend to collapse and walls stick together making it hard to reinflate
. Surfactant ensure that lungs don’t collapse when you breathe out by interfering with cohesiveness of water molecules
- Can get artificial surfactant
- Alveoli is lined with fluid, when you breathe out you empty alveoli of air

55
Q

What does surfactant contain

A

Antimicrobial proteins/substances

56
Q

What could cause infant distress syndrome or cot death

A

Premature babies die for no known reason
Sometimes surfactant producing cells are not produced until late in fetal development = premature babies are born without these surfactant producing cells = look like they are suffocated

57
Q

what is the air:blood interface?

A

VERY THIN barrier that separates air in alveoli and blood in capillaries
Provides a barrier of minimal thickness for the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide- gases diffuse through easily

58
Q

What is the size of air:blood interface?

A

0.5 um

59
Q

What is the air:blood interface composed of ?

A
  1. layer of surfactant - first thing that gases have to get through
  2. simple squamous epithelia of alveoli
  3. basement membranes on top of simple epithelium of alveoli
  4. Interstitial space - often fused together
  5. Basement membrane of endothelium of capillary
  6. Simple squamous epithelium of capillary
  7. Blood
60
Q

What are the 2 simple squamous epithelium that seperates blood from air

A

Alveoli and capillary

61
Q

Why is the alveoli fluid lined

A

So gases can dissolve - for gas exchange to happen

62
Q

How does gas move

A

From an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

63
Q

What is Dalton’s Law

A

In a mixture of gases , the total pressure exerted is equal to the sum of partial pressure of individual gases
Gives you partial pressure for each gas

64
Q

What is normal atmospheric pressure?

A

760mmHg - millimetres of mercury

65
Q

How much can a column of mercury be pushed up vaccum

A

Weight of all air on top of us is enough to push column of mercury up by 760mmHg in vaccum

66
Q

What is partial pressure of O2/CO2 in atmospheric air

A

partial pressure of oxygen is 21% of 760 = 160mmHg

partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 0.3% 0f 760 = 0.3mmHg

67
Q

What is compostion of atmospheric air

A

O2 = 21%
CO2 = 0.04%
N2 - 78%

68
Q

How is the partial pressure of oxygen and CO2 different in alveoli to atmosphere

A

the partial pressure of oxygen is lower and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide is higher in the alveoli compared to the atmosphere , this is because alveoli contains stale air and oxygen is absorbed while carbon dioxide is given off

69
Q

Why does oxygen diffuse into blood and carbon dioxide into the capillaries ?

A

Blood arriving at the lungs is poorer in oxygen and richer in carbon dioxide than the alveoli

70
Q

Why does oxygen diffuse into tissue and carbon dioxide into blood?

A

Blood arriving at the tissue has a higher partial pressure of oxygen therefore diffusing into tissue and lower partial pressure of carbon dioxide than the tissue

71
Q

Explain what happens to oxygen and carbon dioxide at lungs ?

A

Oxygen diffuses into blood

carbon dioxide diffuses out blood

72
Q

What happens to oxygen and carbon dioxide at tissue?

A

Oxygen diffuses into tissue

carbon dioxide diffuses out into blood

73
Q

Which gas has higher partial pressure difference

A

Oxygen levels - partial pressure difference between O2 levels is much greater than for CO2

74
Q

How many times is CO2 more soluble than oxygen

A

20x

75
Q

What is Henrys Law

A

Gases dissolve in the fluid within the alveoli in proportion to their partial pressure

76
Q

How is most O2 transported ( 98.5% )

A

in combination with heamoglobin in red blood cells

77
Q

what is heamoglobin composed off ?

A

4 polypeptide chains , each bound to a haem group,
the iron in each haem binds a molecule of oxygen
Central element of haem group = Fe

78
Q

How is carbon dioxide distributed in the body?

A

. 7-10% of carbon dioxide is dissolved in the plasma
. 20% is bound to the globin portion of heamoglobin
. 70% is dissolved in plasma as bicarbonate ion - mostly

79
Q

What do lungs sit in

A

Pleural cavity of thorax

80
Q

What are lungs surrounded by

A

Double layered serosa ( membrane ) , the pleura

81
Q

What is function of pleura

A

Secretes a fluid - in between the gap of the 2 pleuras that fills the pleural cavity

82
Q

What is function of pleural fluid

A

the fluid lubricates the movement of the lungs and surface tension ensures the lungs adhere to the walls of the thorax.
when the thorax moves so do the lungs
enables lungs to move in a frictionless way against bone and due to surface tension, lungs stuck to ribs and surrounding bony structures- when thorax moves so will lungs

83
Q

what is boyles law?- mechanics of breathing

A

The pressure of gas is inversely proportional to its volume
so decreasing volume with same amount of gas increases collisions and increases pressure
Large vol with given amount of gas - gas molecules dont bump into each other or walls very often = pressure is low

84
Q

What is another mechanic of breathing

A

A gas will move from an area of high pressure to a region of low pressure

85
Q

What are the 2 main muscles involved in pulmonary ventilation?

A

. Intercostal muscle that join the ribs

. The diaphragm that separates the thorax from abdomen

86
Q

What is diaphgram

A

Dome shaped sheet of muscle

87
Q

What happens to lungs when vol of lungs increaes

A

Pressure decreases = air into lungs

88
Q

what happens during inspiration (inhalation)?

A

. thoracic volume increases
. external intercostal muscles contract , raise the rib cage , expanding the thorax- increasing throaic volume ( front/back direction)
. the diaphragm contract ,flattens expanding the thoracic volume ( up/down direction)
. the pressure in the lungs falls below atmoshperic pressure ( as their volume has increased and pressure decreases)
and air enters the lungs

89
Q

Summary of inspiration

A
Raises intercostal muscles
Flattens diaphgram
Increaes thoracic vol
Decreaes lung pressure 
Air comes in lungs
90
Q

How much is thoracic dimensions changed by during inspiration?

A

. Thoracic dimensions are only changed by a few mm in each direction , this is enough to change the volume around 500 ml = the normal amount we inspire every breath
During forced inspiration volumes are increased as secondary muscle e.g. scalenes, pectorals produce bigger volume.

91
Q

How much can we inspire when we take a deep breath

A

Up to 3/4 litres

92
Q

What happens during expiration ( exhalation)

A

. Inspiratory muscles relax and the elasticity of the thorax decreases its volume
. Pressure within the lungs increase above atmospheric pressure forcing air out
-Passive process

93
Q

Summary of expiration

A

Flattens intercostal muscles
Decreases thoracic vol
Increases lung pressure
Air out lungs

94
Q

What happens during forced expiration?

A

Abdominal muscle are forced against the diaphragm and internal intercostals pull down the ribs

95
Q

What are the different resipiratory volumes

A

. tidal volume - normal breath
. inspiratory reserve volume - amount of air that can be inspired forcibly beyond tidal volume
. expiratory reserve volume - amount of air that can be expired forcibly beyond tidal volume
. vital capacity - biggest possible breath
. residual volume- air that cannot be expelled

96
Q

What does residual volume show

A

Always get some air in lungs - can never be fully empty - need continous gas exchange othrerwise lungs would collapse - cant inflate

97
Q

Generation of respiratory rhythm

A

. Basic ryhthm of respiration is generated in a group of neurons in the pons of the brainstem called the ventral respiratory group (VRG)
. VRG uses pacemaker neuron like in the heart and stomach via a.p
. inspiratory neurons in the VRG stimulate the diaphragm and external intercostal muscle
- Neurons in the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) receive input from peripheral stretch receptors and chemoreceptors and modulates the rhythm set by the VRG
- pontine respiratory system (PRC) modify the activity of VRG ( during speech , sleep and exercise)

98
Q

how is respiration modulated to suit the body’s need ?

A

. central and peripheral chemoreceptors respond to low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels to increase respiration. O2 levels increase = respiration decreaes
. proprioceptors = stretch receptors in muscle detect muscle activity = muscles are active it increaes respiration
. respiration can be influenced cortically
. stretch receptors in the lungs to inhibit respiration , preventing over inflation
. nociceptors in the lungs detect irritants and cause sneezes , coughs - complicated contractions